Sunday, November 22, 2015

Our God Reigns

“Rain rain go away, come again another day” is a popular English language nursery rhyme. Observation tells me its popularity rises when clouds conceal the sun for days while rain pours down, soaking the ground. On the other hand, mortals plead with the Divine for rain when the sun scorches earth and living things wither.

Human beings can be so fickle. We generally live by sight, losing hope. Focus determines attitude. If life seems prosperous and satisfying, self-reliance increases while attention to the Provider fades. When conditions fail, distaste for disaster turns to blame. Tempers flare and discussions heat up. Fights ensue and riots break out. Dissension among individuals, families, churches, and governments create a world on fire, lost without direction. And the age-old question surfaces once more—where is God?

Is God surprised by this question? Not at all. He’s the Creator and He knows His creatures. Does this question break His heart? Absolutely. His faithful nature is offered to faithless hearts. His Word continually proclaims His faithfulness while providing numerous examples of humans blaming God for their terrible circumstances. Present situations definitely mimic Biblical circumstances.

Ages ago before accomplishing His word to the Israelites about the Promised Land, God told Moses to write a testimonial song about His faithfulness and His people’s unfaithfulness. It would later prove to be a character reference for God to Israel and the world. God knew once the Israelites set foot in the abundant land flowing with milk and honey, prosperity would breed forgetfulness. Heavenly Father recognized troubles would arise and the Israelites would cry out for help. He wanted this testament written down by Moses so the accounts of a faithless people could instruct and warn future generations. He also desired the revelation of a Faithful and True God broadcasted to all humankind. (You can read about this event in the thirty-first and thirty-second chapters of Deuteronomy.)

From dry desert to succulent surroundings, God dwelt with His people until they chose to break His covenant, forsake Him, and worship false gods. These fair-weather children of God quickly forgot the origin of their blessings. They abandoned the reality of God’s Presence among them in the pillars of cloud and fire. In a land of plenty, they chose wickedness and suffered dire consequences because the Holy One of Israel had to turn away from their unholiness. And they questioned God’s absence in their lives. Oh the plight of all humanity, the fickleness of our focus.

We struggle on this earthly battlefield when our focus is temporal and apathetic. Anything (including education/intelligence, religion, politics, material items, people, money, power, self, etc.) that steals our focus from God Almighty is an idol or mini god. When we turn away from our faithful God to the likes of these false gods, hopelessness will eventually result.

Is Father God disheartened by His children’s unfaithfulness? Yes. Willing to forgive? Definitely. He went to great lengths—sent His Son Jesus to die for us—to grant us mercy and grace in our time of need. Yet He still offers us the choice to either walk in our own flesh or by His very Spirit. Will we fix our gaze on a faithful God with hopeful eyes or continue staring at earthly failure with slumped shoulders of unbelief? Will we see gathering clouds as proof that our Lord God reigns or complain because once again those clouds bring rain? What will you do when clouds gather?

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB)

4 comments:

Wow, Debbie the Christ in you continues to provide power packed inspirational wisdom to me and many others through your writings. I am reading through the Bible and seeing the consistent forgetfulness of God's people, just as you have highlighted here. We see His reining so clearly as we forget.Your writing caused me to become excited as it reminded me of what I had read only days ago. Moses was instructed about writing down the "journey" Numbers 33:1-2. Thanks again for such an inspiring blog.